What did they complain about at party committees in the USSR, and what punishment could the guilty get

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Party meetings and the reprimands they endure are one of the striking features of life in the USSR. The meetings of the party committee created fear, penetrated into all spheres of life and influenced the future of an ordinary Soviet citizen. So why could an ordinary worker in the USSR get a reprimand at party meetings?

The party is the mind, honor and conscience of our era

The party committee was a special committee created by the primary party organization to conduct work in a specific place - at a plant, factory and other enterprises. In other words, the party committee monitored the execution of the instructions and decisions of the party, denounced those who did not follow them and denounced punishments for these violations.

The party played a crucial role in the life of Soviet citizens. Membership in the KPSS is the key to successful career growth, receiving bonuses, incentives, the opportunity to get on the waiting list for housing, and much more. That is why everyone tried to have good relations with the party, and hence with the party committee. The factories even competed for the opportunity to get into the party. Sometimes best friends sacrificed their friendship for the opportunity to receive the coveted party card.

Party committees monitored all violations that contradicted party guidelines and punished for them. But there were the most common reasons for reprimands among workers.

All to fight against the theft of socialist property

Nesunami in the USSR were called workers of factories, factories, enterprises prone to theft in the workplace. In the archives, you can find many minutes of the meetings of the park committee, the result of which was the announcement of reprimands to the workers - communists. They received a severe reprimand with entry into the registration card, for example, "for the use of official position, which entailed the waste of white and paint."

In an era of total scarcity, bunnies were very common. When it was difficult for personal use to get basic things for repair or construction - paint, nails, nuts, bolts - the temptation to take it away from the workplace was great. At the same time, not everyone was caught, and those who were unlucky were subjected to strict party penalties.

In the minutes of party meetings, one can also find cases of taking out fodder oats, which was intended for the horses of the guard service, taking out firewood from the workshop, taking out bearings from an automobile plant, stealing reagents and tools. In general, they tried to take away everything that could be useful in the household from workplaces in the USSR.

For the first time, all things considered, the worker could get off with a simple reprimand or a stern one with an entry. But if the employee was not caught for the first time, or was noticed in other hard-hitting cases in relation to his comrades, family members, then he could be expelled from the CPSU members. The fight against the slugs was carried on constantly and had a wave-like character.

Who does not work shall not eat

Parasitism was condemned in the USSR as one of the most serious offenses. Inspired by the slogans and programs of the Communist Party, Soviet citizens worked selflessly, trying to pass the "five-year plan in 3 years", went "to work - with joy, and from work - with pride!", And sincerely believed that "night is not an obstacle to work" …

Against the background of universal selfless labor activity, lazy people and parasites stood out for their desire to spend time idly and not take part in building a common happy future.

Reprisals for "parasitism in the workplace", "unreasonable absenteeism", "being idle at work" were often handed down at party meetings.

Amoral behavior

All negative aspects that could tarnish the personality of the ideal person of the Soviet era fell under the wording "immoral behavior". In the minutes of party meetings, one can find reprimands for "a fight at the workplace", "rowdy in public places", "violation of the rights of another person's personality", "for betraying comrades", "for unworthy behavior towards a Soviet woman." Speaking frankly, if desired, any action that the party leaders did not like could be led under the wording "for immoral behavior."

With particular fury, the party committee defended the rights of the family - the unit of Soviet society. At the complaint of the employee's wife, a party meeting was gathered in a short time and collectively appealed to the conscience of the guilty person, urging him to come to his senses and take the path of correction. Wives complained of a tough attitude, betrayal, indifference to themselves and children, spree and absence at night, for hiding income from the family, alcohol abuse.

It is interesting that the party had such a strong influence on Soviet people that after the convictions of the representatives of the party committee, men could return to the family, stop going to the side, change their attitude towards their wife and children. At least under pain of public censure.

Sobriety is the norm

In the Soviet period, a huge number of penalties announced by the party committee of organizations contain the wording "for absent drinking" or "getting into a sobering-up center." Drunkards were despised, considering them signs of corruption in society. They were taken on bail, shamed, re-educated and returned to the right life. Moreover, they were engaged in returning to the true path together - the party committee, the bosses at the enterprise, family and friends.

There were some reprimands for "violation of labor discipline", "marriage at work", "failure to meet the deadlines." It is worth noting that apart from the main meaning of the decisions taken by the party committee? they all had an indicative educational aspect. By punishing one particular person, the party sought to teach a lesson to all citizens of the USSR. And the image of the corrected individual, which the repentant worker became, was generally ideal for that time.